Our Team

Julie is one of the founding members of HAPI Trails and housed the initial program at her home on 10 acres. She had adopted a horse from the Animal Adoption Center in 2005 and fell in love with the process and the idea of helping horses. Being an animal advocate all her life, she felt it was the perfect way to continue in life.

She became more involved with the AAC Horse Program and worked closley with it’s founder Vicki Obrien, until Vicki’s untimely death in 2006. Soon after the AAC’s horse program disolved, but Julie continued to help horses in need, working to place unwanted horses into new homes.

In 2009 she received a call about a pregnant mare. Within days of retreiving the mare, she attended a local riding group’s dinner. That is where she met Jen Carter and reconnected with a few other horse enthusist she had met over the years.

She brings a 30 year background in Marketing and Advertising, and is the co-owner of OPEN Creative with Tess Kirkwood. Julie has been certified by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association and is helping to facilitate the EAP Program for HAPI Trails. She is a leader in the 4-H Youth Development Program and is helped to launch Horses for the Horseless, providing 4-H kids an opportunity to connect with horses.

Jenny Wade is originally from Memphis, TN where she spent her youth as an English riding horse-lover. Her equine passion began on a thoroughbred named Pedro when she was 8 years old. Jenny’s love of animals has been a guiding force in her life. In high school, she worked as a caretaker for the Budweiser Clydesdales, she studied primate behavior for four years on a Caribbean island and founded an animal rescue in Phoenix, AZ, serving as the Executive Director for 12 years and growing the organization to one of the largest rescues in Maricopa County.

Jenny has a twenty-five-year long career in the non-profit arena with a strong background in donor management and fundraising. Raising awareness about the plights of animals-in-need and generating a dedicated donor base is second nature to her. Connecting with Hapi Trails has reignited her passion for animal rescue and brought to the forefront again, her love of horses. Her friendships with members of the organization led to her reintroduction to the saddle and with that, she remembered how amazing it is to connect with horses.

Jenny and her black lab, Birdie are fully embracing the lifestyle that comes with horsemanship. Importantly, Jenny looks forward to raising community awareness about the mission of Hapi Trails, to generating much needed funds required for Hapi’s horse care and to learning from the incredible horses we are lucky enough to have enter our lives.

Gena rejoined the HAPI Trails Board in July of 2022. Gena was one of the founding members of HAPI Trails. Her bio will be coming soon. We are very excited Gena will be on our new Educational and Training Committee.

Mara joined the HAPI Trails Board in September of 2022. Her bio will be coming soon. We are very excited Mara will be our on our new Educational and Training Committee.

Alex was born and raised in England. Trained to become a Farrier from the age of 17.
Alex has been around horses since he was old enough to ride. His Mother was the driving force behind the horsey lifestyle. He and his 2 brothers competed well into their late teens, in all manner of horse agility, ( Mounted Games (MGAGB), Horse Ball, Eventing, Show Jumping, Pony Club, Polo cross, Tetrathlon)
He first moved to Teton Valley in 2012 and loves the lifestyle the valley provides. When he’s not working on horses, you’ll find him either riding a horse, a dirt bike or a bicycle.
Alex hopes to bring his extensive knowledge of horses to Hapi Trails as well as providing the best hoof care possible for all Hapi horses.